Volnay Santenots du Milieu Comtes Lafon 2018 (1.5L)

93 Points, Allen Meadows, Burghound: " A markedly riper yet agreeably fresh and spicy nose somewhat grudgingly reveals its aromas of cool and pure black currant and dark cherry that are trimmed in pretty floral nuances. The middle weight flavors exhibit excellent energy and concentration while retaining a lovely sense of refinement on the powerful, focused and impressively long and slightly warm finish that is shaped by firm but fine tannins. This excellent effort should age gracefully for years. (Drink starting 2033)" 04/21

92 Points, Neal Martin, Vinous: "The 2018 Volnay Santenots-du-Milieu 1er Cru has a generous bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry and cranberry, quite pastille-like in style. The palate is well balanced with pliant tannins, fresh acidity, gentle grip with a vibrant and pure finish that exhibits judicious spiciness. Commendable length, this is a well-crafted Volnay that is a cut above the rest. Tasted blind at the Burgfest 2018 red tasting. (Drink between 2023-2038)" 11/22

94 Points, John Gilman, View from the Cellar: "2018 is unequivocally a great, great year for the Lafon family’s Santenots du Milieu, and I would not be surprised to see this gorgeous young Volnay eventually age along the lines of the stellar 1978 version (which remains the single finest mature red wine from Comtes Lafon that I have been fortunate enough to drink). The bouquet is pure and stunning, soaring from the glass in a blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, bitter chocolate, a complex base of dark soil tones and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and shows off outstanding mid-palate depth, with superb focus and grip, a fine sense of sappiness, great backend mineral drive, fine-grained tannins and a very, very long and complex finish. This will be a great bottle of Volnay in due course."